Composer of the Month 2/2013: Arcangelo Corelli (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

Italy 30.5.1953 The video shows the violinist Alessandra Talamo with "Accademia degli Astrusi" performing the Violin Sonata, Op 5 No 12 "La Follia" by Arcangelo Corelli in Berlin during the "Days of Early Music" on 15/10/2010 at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The Italian composer and violinist Arcangelo Corelli was born on 17 February 1653 in Fusignano. His breakthrough as a violinist, he succeeded in 1672 in Paris, after which he spent some time in Germany, was in the service of the Bavarian Kurfuersten in 1681 and 1685, he headed festive musical performances for Queen Christina of Sweden in Rome. He was a favorite of Cardinal Ottoboni, who later became Pope Alexander VIII. Corelli's virtuosic musical style has been the basis of modern violin technique of the 18th and 19th Century. His compositions had great influence on the development of chamber music as well as on the church and chamber sonata. Corelli is considered the actual creator of the genre of the "Concerto Grosso". Arcangelo Corelli died on 8 January 1713 in Rome. 2013 marks the 360th anniversary of his birth of his 300th death anniversary. More composer can be found in the members only section